Brigham Young University

#255 / #87
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
#102
Most Desirable School
Private research university in Provo, Utah, United States

Brigham Young University Featured Rankings

About Brigham Young University

By James Barham, PhD

Brigham Young University (BYU) was founded in 1875 as the Brigham Young Academy. It is a private, research university owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

In 1903, the academy was divided into two parts, Brigham Young High School and Brigham Young University. Over the course of the twentieth century, BYU gradually acquired the resources and curriculum of a modern research university. By the 1970s, the school had acquired a greatly expanded library, as well as several respected professional schools, including the J. Reuben Clark Law School and the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology.

In 1989, a satellite campus opened in Jerusalem, in Israel.

The student body numbers more than 33,600 individuals. All BYU students must take an oath to live by a strict honor code pertaining both to academics and personal conduct. Although the school is open to persons of all faiths, around 99 percent of students belong to the LDS Church.

Prominent BYU-associated individuals include the following:

  • Mathematician, David Bailey
  • Computer scientists, Jeffrey M. Bradshaw & Bruce Bastian
  • Romance novelist, Stephenie Meyer
  • Science fiction novelists, Orson Scott Car & Brandon Sanderson
  • Memoirist and essayist, Tara Westover
  • Inspirational author and speaker, Stephen Covey
  • Actors Jon Heder & Aaron Eckhart
  • Comedian, Matthew Meese
  • Artist, James C. Christensen
  • Violinist, singer, songwriter, and dancer, Lindsey Stirling
  • Choral composer, arranger, and director, Mack Wilberg
  • Physicist and hearing-aid inventor, Harvey Fletcher
  • Inventor and television pioneer, Philo Farnsworth
  • Biochemists, Paul D. Boyer (Nobel laureate) & Scott Strobel
  • Entomologists, Ralph Chamberlin & Vasco Tanner
  • Historians, Mark Choate & Claudia Lauper Bushman
  • Biblical scholar, Bradley Ray Wilcox
  • Economist, Stephen Cameron
  • Economist and business management scholar, Teppo Felin
  • Business consultant and author, Clayton M. Christensen
  • Former Dell Computers President and CEO, Kevin Rollins
  • Former LDS Church President, Thomas Spencer Monson
  • Former US Supreme Court Justice, George Sutherland
  • Former US Senators, Reed Smoot & Orrin Hatch
  • Current US Senators, Mike Crapo & Mike Lee
  • 2012 Republican presidential nominee and current US Senator, Mitt Romney

According to Wikipedia, Brigham Young University is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .

Brigham Young University's Online Degrees

Brigham Young University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Annual ApplicationsAcceptanceGraduation RateMedian SAT ScoreMedian ACT Score
11,60859%77%130529

How Much Does Brigham Young University Cost To Attend?

Tuition (in-state)
$6,120
Price by Family Income
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$9,445
30K - 48K$10,333
48K - 75K$12,676
75K - 110K$15,777
110K+$17,864

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

How Much Do Brigham Young University Graduates Make?

If you graduate from Brigham Young University, then you can expect to earn an average of $71,500 per year. You also have a 75% chance of being employed after 10 years.

Brigham Young University's Demographics

Demographic data is for full-time, on-campus students.

Student BodyUnder-GradsGraduates
35,31332,5422,771

Where is Brigham Young University?

Brigham Young University is located at Main Campus, Provo UT 84602

How Safe is Brigham Young University?

Brigham Young University has a violent crime rate of less than .01% and a property crime rate of less than .01%. Provo has a violent crime rate of less than .01% and a property crime rate of less than .01%.

What Is Brigham Young University Known For?

Brigham Young University is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:

Brigham Young University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Who Are Brigham Young University's Most Influential Alumni?

Brigham Young University's most influential alumni faculty include professors and professionals in the fields of Business, Law, and History. Here are some of Brigham Young University's most famous alumni:

Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
An American science fiction novelist.
Philo Farnsworth
Philo Farnsworth
An American inventor.
Ken Jennings
Ken Jennings
An American game show contestant and writer.
Lyle Campbell
An American Mesoamericanist.
Don Bluth
Don Bluth
An American animator.
Paul D. Boyer
Paul D. Boyer
An American biochemist.
Wayne C. Booth
An American academic.
Mark Skousen
Mark Skousen
An American economist, investment analyst, newsletter editor, college professor and author.
Dallin H. Oaks
Dallin H. Oaks
An Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ezra Taft Benson
A President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
Tracy Hickman
Tracy Hickman
An American writer and game designer.
Jeffrey Meldrum
An American anthropologist.

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